Multi-purpose open top support base

Abstract

An open top support base for articles such as steel flat files, desk tops, and the like. The open top support base comprises a pair of opposing side panels, a back panel and a bottom shelf panel each extending between the side panels, a pair of leg weldments extending along the bottom edge and parallel with each side panel, and a pair of support braces attached to the top edge of each side panel and extending parallel thereto. The article may thus be rested upon or secured to the open top support base to elevate the article from the floor, or to provide a work surface or suitable height for a person to work while seated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An open top support base for supporting an article thereon, said open top support base comprising: a pair of opposing side panels, each side panel having an opposing top and bottom edge and an opposing front and back edge, said side panels each having a generally planar side surface oriented in a generally upright position and a plurality of ledges, said ledges extending from the top edge, bottom edge, and front and back edges of each said side panel generally perpendicular to the planar side surface thereof and in a generally inward direction toward the opposing side panel, said ledges and said generally planar side surface defining an interior region of each of said side panels;   a back panel, said back panel having a pair of opposing end edges and opposing top and bottom edges, said back panel extending between and connected to said opposing side panels, said back panel further having a generally planar surface oriented in a generally upright position;   a bottom shelf panel, said bottom shelf panel having a pair of opposing end edges and an opposing front and back edge, said bottom shelf panel extending between and connected to said opposing side panels, said bottom shelf panel further having a generally planar surface oriented in a generally horizontal position;   a pair of leg weldments, each leg weldment extending from and connected to the bottom edge of each side panel generally parallel thereto, each leg weldment having a pair of opposing ends, said length of said leg weldments being greater than the distance between the front edge and the back edge of the side panel to which said leg weldment is connected; and   a pair of support braces, each support brace extending from and connected to the top edge of each side panel generally parallel thereto, each support brace having a pair of opposing ends and a length measured between said opposing ends, said length of said support braces being greater than the distance between the front edge and the back edge of the side panel to which said support brace is connected, each said support brace having a top surface on which the article may be supported, with a generally open top region being defined between said support braces,   whereby the opposing end edges of the bottom shelf panel and the opposing end edges of the back panel may be engagingly received within the interior region of the side panels between the ledges thereof to provide reinforcement for the open top support base.   
     
     
       2. The open top support base of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of ledges extending from the front and back side edges of each side panel generally perpendicular to the planar surface thereof and in a generally inward direction toward the opposing side panel, said ledges and said generally planar surface and the leg weldments and support base adjacent an interior region of each of the side panels. 
     
     
       3. The open top support base of claim 1 wherein the back panel and bottom shelf panel are connected to each of the side panels and engagingly received within the interior region of each side panel such that the bottom edge of the back panel is closely adjacent and contacting the bottom of the interior region and back edge of each side panel, the front edge of the bottom shelf panel is closely adjacent and contacting the front ledges of each side panel, the top edge of the back panel is closely adjacent and contacting the top of the interior region of each of the side panels, and the back edge of the bottom shelf panel closely confronts and is in abutting contact with the generally planar surface of the back panel. 
     
     
       4. The open top support base of claim 1 wherein the back panel and bottom shelf panel are connected to each of the side panels and engagingly received within the interior region of each side panel such that the bottom edge of the back panel closely confronts and is in abutting contact with the generally planar surface of the bottom shelf panel, the front edge of the bottom shelf panel is closely adjacent to and contacting the ledges extending from the front edges of each side panel, the back edge of the bottom shelf panel is closely adjacent to and contacting the ledges extending from the back edges and bottom edges of each side panel, the top edge of the back panel is closely adjacent to and contacting the top of the interior region of each of the side panels. 
     
     
       5. The open top support base of claim 1 wherein the back panel and bottom shelf panel are connected to each of the side panels and engagingly received within the interior region of each side panel, the bottom shelf panel having a depth measured between the front and the back edge thereof, and the back panel having a height measured between the top and the bottom edge thereof and a thickness, and wherein said depth of the bottom shelf panel plus said thickness of the back panel is generally equal to the distance between the ledges extending from the front and back edges of each of the side panels, and said height of the back panel is generally equal to the distance between the top and bottom of the interior region of each of the side panels. 
     
     
       6. The open top support base of claim 1 wherein the back panel and bottom shelf panel are connected to each of the side panels and engagingly received within the interior region of each side panel, the bottom shelf panel having a depth measured between the front and the back edge thereof and a thickness, and the back panel having a height measured between the top and the bottom edge thereof, and wherein said depth of the bottom shelf panel is generally equal to the distance between the ledges extending from the front and back edges of each of the side panels, and said height of the back panel plus said thickness of the bottom shelf panel is generally equal to the distance between the top and bottom of the interior region of each of the side panels. 
     
     
       7. The open top support base of claim 3, 4, 5, or 6 wherein the opposing end edges of the back panel and the opposing end edges of the bottom shelf panel are each fastened to the generally planar surface of one of the opposing side panels, the back panel and bottom shelf panel each being fastened to corresponding side panels with a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through one of a plurality of apertures defined by the side panels and extending entirely through the generally planar surfaces thereof, each said fastener being inserted through one of said apertures with a portion of said fastener being received within one of the back panel or the bottom shelf panel. 
     
     
       8. The open top support base of claim 4 wherein the opposing end edges of the back panel and the opposing end edges of the bottom shelf panel are each fastened to the generally planar surface of one of the opposing side panels, the back panel and bottom shelf panel each being fastened to corresponding side panels with a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through one of a plurality of apertures defined by the side panels and extending entirely through the generally planar surfaces thereof, each said fastener being inserted through one of said apertures with a portion of said fastener being received within one of the back panel or the bottom shelf panel. 
     
     
       9. The open top support base of claim 5 wherein the opposing end edges of the back panel and the opposing end edges of the bottom shelf panel are each fastened to the generally planar surface of one of the opposing side panels, the back panel and bottom shelf panel each being fastened to corresponding side panels with a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through one of a plurality of apertures defined by the side panels and extending entirely through the generally planar surfaces thereof, each said fastener being inserted through one of said apertures with a portion of said fastener being received within one of the back panel or the bottom shelf panel. 
     
     
       10. The open top support base of claim 6 wherein the opposing end edges of the back panel and the opposing end edges of the bottom shelf panel are each fastened to the generally planar surface of one of the opposing side panels, the back panel and bottom shelf panel each being fastened to corresponding side panels with a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through one of a plurality of apertures defined by the side panels and extending entirely through the generally planar surfaces thereof, each said fastener being inserted through one of said apertures with a portion of said fastener being received within one of the back panel or the bottom shelf panel. 
     
     
       11. The open top support base of claim 1 wherein the side panels each have a thickness, and the leg weldments and the support braces each have a thickness, and wherein said thickness of each support brace is approximately equal to said thickness of the side panel to which the support brace is closely adjacent to and attached, and said thickness of each leg weldment is approximately equal to said thickness of the side panel to which the support brace is closely adjacent to and attached. 
     
     
       12. The open top support base of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of brackets, each said bracket connected to and extending from one of said support braces, said brackets having a generally inwardly projecting segment which extends generally perpendicular to the support brace to which the bracket is attached and in a generally inward direction toward the opposing support brace, and an upwardly projecting segment which extends upwardly above the top surface of the support brace to which the bracket is attached.   
     
     
       13. The open top support base of claim 12 wherein the article is a flat file, said flat file having a pair of opposing base frame members spaced a distance apart, each said base frame member having an inner side surface confronting and opposing the inner side surface of the opposing base frame member, wherein the upwardly projecting segment of each of the brackets is positioned closely adjacent to and in contact with said inner side surface of one of said base frame members when the flat file is supported upon the support braces. 
     
     
       14. The open top support base of claim 2 wherein each of the brackets are fastened to the adjacent base frame members by one or more fasteners, each bracket defining one or more apertures extending entirely therethrough, with each said fastener being inserted through one of said apertures with a portion of said fastener being received within the base frame member adjacent the bracket. 
     
     
       15. The open top support base of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of brackets, each said bracket connected to and extending from one of said support braces, said brackets having a generally inwardly projecting segment which extends generally perpendicular to the support brace to which the bracket is attached and in a generally inward direction toward the opposing support brace. 
     
     
       16. The open top support base of claim 15 wherein the article is a desk top having a generally planar work surface and an underside surface, and wherein the brackets are fastened to the underside of the desk top by one or more fasteners, each bracket defining one or more apertures extending entirely therethrough, with each said fastener being inserted through one of said apertures with a portion of said fastener being received within the underside surface of the article. 
     
     
       17. An open top support base assembly comprising: a pair of opposing side panels, each side panel having an opposing top and bottom edge and an opposing front and back edge, said side panels having a generally planar side surface;   a back panel, said back panel having a pair of opposing end edges and opposing top and bottom edges, said back panel being connectable to said opposing side panels, said back panel further having a generally planar surface;   a bottom shelf panel, said bottom shelf panel having a pair of opposing end edges and an opposing front and back edge, said bottom shelf panel being connectable to extend between said opposing side panels, said bottom shelf panel further having a generally planar surface;   a pair of leg weldments, each leg weldment connectable to the bottom edge of each side panel generally parallel thereto, each leg weldment having a pair of opposing ends and a length measured between said opposing ends, said length of said leg weldments being greater than the distance between the front edge and the back edge of the side panel;   a pair of support braces, each support brace being connectable to the top edge of each side panel generally parallel thereto, each support brace having a pair of opposing ends and a length measured between said opposing ends and a length measured between said opposing ends, each length of said support braces being greater than the distance between the front edge and the back edge of the side panel; and   a plurality of ledges, said ledges extending from the top edge, bottom edge, and front and back side edges of each said side panel generally perpendicular to the planar side surface thereof and in a generally inward direction toward the opposing side panel, said ledges and said generally planar side surface of each side panel defining an interior region of each of said side panels,   whereby the opposing end edges of the bottom shelf panel and the opposing end edges of the back panel may be engagingly received within the interior region of the side panels between the ledges thereof to provide reinforcement for the open top support base.